ES2583878T3 - Gas release device contained in an atmospheric globe - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for releasing a gaseous composition contained in an atmospheric balloon enclosure (21) at a pressure greater than a pressure prevailing in an atmosphere (22) outside the atmospheric balloon, said device comprising: - an evacuation duct ( 23) capable of joining the enclosure (21) of the atmospheric balloon (20) to this outer atmosphere (22), - at least two fins, called parallel fins (24, 26), arranged in said evacuation duct (23) and adapted to, in closed position, each close a different portion of a section of the evacuation duct (23), - an actuator (25) adapted to be able to move a first fin in parallel (24) between a first position, called a closed position , of limiting at least the release of the gaseous composition and a second position, called the open position, of the release of the gaseous composition, - an actuator (31) adapted to be able to move a second fin in parallel (2 6) between a first position, called the closed position, of at least the limitation of the release of the gaseous composition and a second position, called the open position, of the release of the gaseous composition, - at least one fin, called the series fin (27, 29) , arranged in said evacuation duct (23), other than said parallel fin (24), - an actuator (30) adapted to be able to move said fin in series (27, 29) between a position, called a closed, limiting position at least for release of gaseous composition and a position, called open position, for release of gaseous composition, the evacuation duct (23) being completely closed, when all the fins in parallel are in a closed position, the evacuation duct (23 being) ) completely closed, when each fin in series is in the closed position, characterized in that said actuator (31) of the second parallel fin (26) is adapted for po move the second fin in parallel (26) independently of the position of the first parallel wing (24).

Description

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Gas release device contained in an atmospheric globe DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device for releasing a gaseous composition contained in an atmospheric balloon enclosure. The invention relates more particularly to a device for releasing a gaseous composition contained in an open stratospheric balloon enclosure.

Atmospheric balloons, such as probe balloons, pass through numerous atmospheric layers, from the highest pressures at takeoff from the earth to very low pressures in the upper strata of the atmosphere. Therefore, the amount of carrier gas contained in the atmospheric balloons must be regulated, and more particularly, gas must be released in order to maintain the tension of the envelope of the atmospheric balloon in a fork of normal operating values.

Moreover, the release of carrier gas from the envelope allows control of the altitude of the globe and, therefore, eventually partially control its trajectory.

In addition, the controlled release of the carrier gas at the end of the mission, allows to dominate the landing zone of the atmospheric globe.

Atmospheric balloons that are currently known, comprise a single gas release device installed on the cusp of the envelope of the atmospheric balloon. The device comprises, in particular, a gas release flap sent between a closed position and at least one open position.

However, atmospheric balloons are exposed to extreme operating conditions: low pressure, low temperature, exposure to cosmic radiation (solar, in particular), frost formation, etc. Therefore, onboard integrated devices - including gas release devices - are exposed to these conditions and are susceptible to breakdown. Then, the control of the trajectory of the globe is compromised and its duration of life is greatly reduced, whether the open release device is locked or locked closed.

Therefore, the invention aims to mitigate these inconveniences. The documents of the United States US2004 / 0127153, European EP0192110 or the United States US2976884 describe gates with several fins.

The object of the invention is to propose a device for releasing a gaseous composition contained in the envelope of an atmospheric balloon that resists faults, in particular, a single fault.

The object of the invention is more particularly a device of this type that can overcome a fault in the closed position and a fault in the open position.

The invention also aims to propose a device of this type that can be installed in place of current devices.

The object of the invention is to propose such a device that is light.

Throughout the text, an "balloon" is designated by an aerostat comprising a wrapper that encloses a gaseous composition, said aerostat being able to rise in an atmosphere thanks to the difference in density between the gaseous composition and said atmosphere. The atmosphere is understood in the broad sense and comprises all layers of the atmosphere, including the stratosphere.

Therefore, the invention relates to a device for releasing a gaseous composition according to claim 1, to a method of controlling a device according to claim 13, to an atmospheric balloon according to claim 15 and to a method of controlling a atmospheric balloon according to claim 17.

The gaseous composition is advantageously a gaseous composition of lower density than atmospheric air, in particular, a composition comprising a strong helium content, advantageously pure helium, or a strong dihydrogen content, advantageously pure dihydrogen.

In a closed position, a parallel fin (respectively in series) limits the release of gaseous composition of the enclosure into the atmosphere. More advantageously, a parallel fin (respectively in series) in closed position closes a portion of the evacuation duct so as to prevent the release of gaseous composition, from the enclosure into the atmosphere, by this portion of the evacuation duct.

Advantageously, a parallel fin (respectively in series) is in an open position from the moment that the gaseous composition can escape through a passage left open by the parallel fin (respectively

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in series) in the evacuation duct. In closed position, each fin closes a portion of the passage section of the evacuation duct, so that it avoids, when each parallel fin is in a closed position and / or each fin in series is in a closed position, so that gaseous composition escapes from the atmospheric globe enclosure through the evacuation duct.

Nothing prevents anticipating, for each fin (in parallel or in series), several different open positions. In this way, the flow of gaseous composition can be regulated according to different values through a passage left open in the evacuation duct by said flap.

Advantageously, a device according to the invention comprises a plurality of parallel fins each closing only an incomplete portion of an evacuation duct section, said evacuation duct section being completely closed when each parallel fin is in a closed position.

Therefore, the parallel fins are complementary to close a section of the evacuation duct.

Each parallel fin (respectively in series) is adapted to close, in a closed position, a portion between 10% and 90% of a passage section of the evacuation duct, specifically, a portion between 25% and 75% and more particularly between 40% and 60%, for example, about 50%, of a passage section of the evacuation duct.

Said fins in series are advantageously adapted so that said passage section of the evacuation duct is completely closed, when all the fins in series are closed, whatever the position (open or closed) of each fin in parallel.

The set of the fins in series advantageously closes the same passage section of the evacuation duct as the set of the fins in parallel.

Between each actuator and each fin, the device comprises a mechanical transmission adapted to be able to transmit and transform a movement of the actuator to a fin set comprising at least one fin between an open position and a closed position of each fin of the fin set.

In a device according to the invention, advantageously, any mobile element is arranged inside the evacuation duct. In particular, the fins in parallel and the fins in series are, in closed position and in open position, contained in a volume delimited by said evacuation duct. Also, the actuators are contained in a volume delimited by said evacuation duct. In addition, each piece of each mechanical transmission is also contained in a volume delimited by said evacuation duct. Thus, the risk of deterioration of the envelope of the atmospheric balloon by a mobile element of the release device according to the invention is low.

Moreover, a device according to the invention further comprises, advantageously, at least three different actuators adapted to be able to operate independently respectively:

- at least one first fin in parallel,

- at least a second parallel fin other than the first parallel fin,

- each fin in series.

Each parallel fin actuator (s) is fed independently of one another parallel fin actuator (s).

Each fin actuator (s) in series is fed independently from the fin actuators (s) in parallel and from one (the) other eventual fin actuator (s) in series.

Moreover, a device according to the invention advantageously comprises a chain of command of its own for each actuator.

In this way, in case of failure of the actuation of a fin in parallel, that is, in case of failure of the fin and / or of a mechanical transmission between the actuator and the fin and / or its actuator and / or a drive chain of the actuator, another independently controlled parallel fin allows to open or close the enclosure to the outside atmosphere so that said gaseous composition is released into the atmosphere.

In particular, in case of failure of a parallel fin in the initial closed position, at least one other parallel fin can be opened to release the gaseous composition.

Also, in case of failure of at least one parallel fin in the open position, the fins in series are adapted to close the enclosure. More particularly, the fins in series are adapted to be able to control a flow of gaseous composition moving between an open position and a closed position.

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Moreover, a device according to the invention comprises several parallel fins independently operated and adapted to close, each of them, a non-complete portion of the evacuation duct. In this way, the flow rate of the gaseous composition released through the evacuation duct can be regulated very precisely by choosing the number of fin (s) in parallel in the open position.

A device according to the invention further comprises, advantageously, at least one device, called a surveillance device, adapted to determine the open position or the closed position of at least two independently operated parallel fins and at least one fin in series.

Such a monitoring device allows the position of each fin operated independently of another fin to be determined.

Said monitoring device is adapted to be able to elaborate analog or digital data representative of a position of each fin operated independently.

The monitoring device advantageously comprises microcontactors adapted to be able to produce a signal for detecting a contact of a mechanical part of a mechanical transmission between an actuator and a fin set (s), when this mechanical part is in a position corresponding to a closed position of the set of fins actuated by means of this transmission. The monitoring device comprises a plurality of microcontactors, which in this way allow to detect the closed position of at least each set of fins operated independently of another set of fins.

A device according to the invention is advantageously adapted to be able to emit this digital data, specifically, wireless to a receiver on the ground. In this way, an operator is informed of the status ("open" or "closed" at least) of each fin and can, in case of finding the failure of at least one fin, send the other fins accordingly.

In some advantageous embodiments, the monitoring device is adapted to determine a degree of opening of each fin, so that the flow of gaseous composition that escapes from the enclosure can be determined.

A device according to the invention advantageously comprises between two and five fins in parallel (respectively in series), specifically, between two and three fins in parallel (respectively in series). More advantageously, a device according to the invention comprises two fins in parallel and two fins in series, said fins in series being operated together.

Advantageously, a device according to the invention is also characterized in that the evacuation conduit comprises a seat interposed in said evacuation conduit between the enclosure and the outside atmosphere, said seat presenting at least one opening, called the evacuation opening, between the enclosure and the outside atmosphere,

- each parallel fin is adapted to, in a closed position, be in abutment against a first face of said seat,

- each evacuation opening is completely closed, when all the fins in parallel are in closed position,

- each fin in series is adapted to, in a closed position, be in abutment against a second face of said seat, opposite to the first face,

- each evacuation opening is completely closed when all the fins in series are in closed position.

The seat restricts the evacuation duct section. The sum of the sections of the set of the evacuation openings (the section of the evacuation opening when there is only one of them) forms the section of passage of gaseous composition, through the evacuation duct, of the enclosure towards the outside atmosphere.

The first face, called the outer face, is arranged on the side of the outer atmosphere. The second face, called the inner face, is arranged on the side opposite the outer face, on the side of the enclosure.

Advantageously, each parallel fin is, in an open position, on the side of the outside atmosphere with respect to said seat.

Advantageously, each fin in series is, in an open position, on the side of the enclosure with respect to said seat.

The fins in parallel and the fins in series are adapted to, in closed position, close the evacuation duct by closing on the same single seat. In this way, the fins in series, the fins in parallel and the seat together form a gate with several fins, said fins being operated redundantly. In this way, the invention proposes a release device that resists at least one single fault, and whose

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Mass is limited.

Each mechanical transmission is adapted so that, in a closed position, each fin to which said mechanical transmission is attached, exerts a non-zero effort on a face of said seat, including in the absence of effort transmitted by an actuator of said fin through said mechanical transmission. In this way, even in the absence of power supply to the actuator of a fin, it remains in a closed position and exerts an effort on the adapted seat to be able to oppose the pressure difference between the enclosure and the outside atmosphere.

The seat is advantageously flat overall and is arranged in an orthogonal plane to the main direction of the evacuation duct. It forms a sleeper, on which each fin in parallel and each fin in series come to bump in closed position.

The seat advantageously has two evacuation openings, in particular, in embodiments of a device according to the invention comprising two fins in parallel and two fins in series. In this way, each parallel fin closes an evacuation opening. Also, each fin in series closes an evacuation opening.

In such embodiments, the two evacuation openings are separated by a central platform of the seat that extends along an axis transverse to the evacuation duct. The two evacuation openings are advantageously symmetrical with respect to said central platform.

On the other hand, the evacuation duct is advantageously in a globally symmetrical way of revolution to be able to be fixed on the cusp of an envelope of the atmospheric globe.

Thus, each fin in series and each fin in parallel have, advantageously, a disk portion.

More particularly, in embodiments of the invention comprising two evacuation openings, the two fins in series and the two fins in parallel each advantageously have a so-called half-moon shape, that is, a half-disk shape. In such embodiments, each parallel fin is operated independently of the other parallel fin, and the fins in series are collectively actuated, independently of each parallel fin.

Advantageously and according to the invention,

- said seat comprises at least one sealing gasket on each face, on the periphery of each evacuation opening,

- each fin in parallel and each fin in series is adapted to, in a closed position, compress a seal.

More particularly, the sealing gaskets arranged on each face of the seat, on the periphery of the same evacuation opening, are made of a single piece assembled on edges that delimit said evacuation opening.

On the other hand, advantageously and according to the invention, the fins are swinging.

The fins move between a closed position in which they oppose a watertight surface to the release of gaseous composition and an open position in which they are substantially oriented according to the flow of gaseous composition in the evacuation duct.

The fins are, for example, pivotally articulated in the evacuation duct, between a closed position and at least one open position. In particular, they are pivotally articulated about an axis parallel to an axis transverse to said evacuation duct. More particularly, the parallel and serial fins are all advantageously pivotally articulated about at least one axis parallel to the same axis transverse to said evacuation duct.

In particularly advantageous embodiments, the fins move between a closed position and an open position according to a swinging movement formed by the combination of a rotation and a translation, in particular, in order to clear an evacuation opening well. through which the gaseous composition is released when said fin is in the open position.

For the rest, advantageously and according to the invention, each actuator is arranged, with respect to said seat on one side of the enclosure of the atmospheric balloon.

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In this way, the actuators are in the enclosure, in particular, when all the fins in parallel and / or all the fins in series are in closed position. In fact, helium or dihydrogen generally used as a gaseous composition in the enclosure are dry gases, without moisture. Thus, in a device according to the invention the actuators are advantageously free of fairing.

Moreover, advantageously and according to the invention, the device further comprises a mechanical transmission between each actuator and at least one fin, said mechanical transmission is adapted so that said fin in closed position keeps this closed position, included in the absence of effort of said actuator.

In this way, the fins of a device according to the invention, when they are in a closed position, remain in a closed position, even in the absence of feeding of the actuators, included in the presence of a pressure difference between two opposite faces of said fin - that is, between the enclosure and the atmosphere outside the atmospheric globe-, which results in an effort that tends to move said fin from a closed position to an open position.

This makes it possible to limit the energy consumption of the release device according to the invention, which is essential in an atmospheric balloon whose energy integrated on board is limited.

Moreover, this allows to ensure that a fin remains in the closed position in the event of failure of its actuator.

The actuators are advantageously electric motors.

The invention also extends to a method of controlling a device according to the invention. More particularly, the invention extends to a control method of a device in which each actuator is fed and controlled independently of the other actuators.

In a process according to the invention, several fins in parallel are independently operated and the fins in series are independently operated from the fins in parallel.

Advantageously and according to the invention, in launching the atmospheric balloon, each parallel fin is in a closed position and each serial fin is in an open position.

For the rest, advantageously and according to the invention,

- the parallel fins are operated in a usual mode of operation in which each parallel fin can be operated to a closed position,

- the fins in series are operated in a degraded mode of operation in which at least one parallel fin cannot be operated until a closed position.

Being at least two fins parallel to each other, in case of blocking one of them in a closed position, at least one other fin in parallel can move in an open position to evacuate gaseous composition from the enclosure to the atmosphere.

A single parallel fin is sufficient to control the amount of gaseous composition contained in the atmosphere balloon enclosure. In this way, from the moment that at least one parallel fin can be operated between an open position and a closed position, in both directions and, in particular, to a closed position to ensure a tight closing of the enclosure, the fins in series are not powered.

If, on the contrary, one of the fins in parallel is locked in the open position after being opened from its initial closed position, the fins in series, independent of the fins in parallel, can move from their initial open position to a position closed so that they close the enclosure. Then, the fins in series are used for the rest of the mission to control the flow of gaseous composition that escapes from the enclosure.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the fins in parallel and in series are controlled from the ground. Wireless control signals are sent to the release device according to the invention, said command signals comprising data representative of opening or closing commands of each set of independent fins.

The instantaneous position of each set of fins is advantageously known thanks to the monitoring device, whose signals are sent wirelessly to a receiving device.

The invention also relates to a release device characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

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Other purposes, characteristics and advantages of the invention will be shown after reading the following description given by way of non-limiting and referring to the attached figures in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a gaseous composition release device according to an embodiment according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation with longitudinal section view of the device of Figure 1 in which the position of a parallel fin is different from its position in Figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a schematic representation with longitudinal section view of the device of Figure 1, according to the same cutting plane as Figure 2, with fins in series in a different position from their position of Figures 1 and 2,

- Figure 4 is a schematic representation with a longitudinal section view of the device of Figure 1, according to a cutting plane orthogonal to the cutting plane of Figure 2.

The represented embodiment of the gaseous composition release device according to the invention comprises an evacuation duct 23 mounted on the cusp of an atmospheric balloon 20, specifically, on the cusp of the envelope of an atmospheric balloon. The evacuation duct 23 comprises for this a bench 48 adapted to be able to be attached to the envelope of an atmospheric balloon.

The atmospheric balloon has an enclosure 21 filled with a gaseous composition and separated from an outer atmosphere 22 surrounding the atmospheric balloon by said envelope of the atmospheric balloon. In the example presented, the gaseous composition contained in the enclosure 21 of the atmospheric balloon 20 is pure helium.

The evacuation duct 23 joins the enclosure 21 to the outside atmosphere 22 and allows the release of helium in the outer atmosphere 22. The evacuation duct has a globally cylindrical form of revolution, in particular, a conical shaped trunk flamed on the side of the outside atmosphere.

The evacuation conduit 23 comprises a seat 28 that forms a local restriction of a passage section of the evacuation conduit. The seat 28 forms, in particular, a thin collar that protrudes from the inner surface of the evacuation duct.

The seat also has a solid central portion, called the central platform 39, which extends along an axis transverse to the evacuation duct, in particular, according to a diameter of the evacuation duct.

In addition, the seat has two openings, called evacuation openings 32, symmetrically distributed on both sides of the central platform 39. Each evacuation opening 32 has a semi-moon shape globally (half disk whose part closest to the center is removed with constant width at along the diameter of the disc).

The device also comprises a first parallel fin 24 adapted to be able to close a first of the two evacuation openings 34 coming into contact with a face, called the outer face 33, of the seat 28, beyond the peripheral edges of said opening of evacuation.

In addition, each evacuation opening has a peripheral seal 36, 37 arranged on the periphery of the evacuation opening, on each face of the seat. Advantageously, the seals of the same evacuation opening on the two faces of the seat 28 are made of a single sealing piece adapted to be assembled on a peripheral edge of said evacuation opening. Each sealing piece has a sealing lip on each face of the seat, to form the two sealing joints of an evacuation opening.

The first parallel fin 24 is connected by a mechanical transmission 38 to a specific actuator 25 of said first parallel fin 24. The second parallel fin 26 is joined by a mechanical transmission 38 different from that of the first parallel fin 24 a a specific actuator 31 of said second parallel fin 26. In this way, each parallel fin is operated independently of the other parallel fin.

In this way, the device is resistant to faults that occur in a parallel fin when it is in a closed position and remains locked in a closed position: the second parallel fin allows the enclosure to open and release helium into the atmosphere.

In addition, as long as the two fins in parallel are functional, the flow of helium in the evacuation duct can be controlled very precisely. In fact, an operator can choose to release helium at a high flow rate by opening the two fins in parallel simultaneously or releasing a moderate amount of helium by opening only one fin in parallel.

The device also includes two fins in series 27, 29 adapted to be able to close the two evacuation openings 32 coming into contact with one face, called the inner face 35, opposite the outer face, of the seat 28, beyond the edges peripherals of said evacuation opening, in particular, in contact with a

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sealing gasket 36, 37.

The fins in parallel 24, 26 and the fins in series 27, 29 are adapted to contact the seals 36, 37 and, by crushing them in a closed position, tightly close the enclosure 21 with respect to the atmosphere 22.

The device further comprises a second parallel fin 26 adapted to be able to close the second of the two evacuation openings 32 reaching contact with said outer face 33 of the seat 28, beyond the peripheral edges of said evacuation opening, in concrete, in contact with a seal 37.

In the particular embodiment presented, 50% of the evacuation duct section is permanently closed by the seat 28. Therefore, the passage section is approximately 50% of the evacuation duct section.

Therefore, each evacuation opening has a section of approximately 50% of the passage section, that is, 25% of the section of the evacuation duct.

In closed position, the fins in series are in contact with the seals 36, 37 so that they form, with the seat 28 and the seals 36, 37, a helium-tight barrier between the enclosure 21 and the atmosphere 22 .

Also, in a closed position, the fins in parallel are in contact with the seals 36, 37 so that they form, with the seat 28 and the seals 36, 37, a helium-tight barrier between the enclosure 21 and the atmosphere 22.

The two fins in series are driven by a third actuator 30 to which they are connected by a mechanical transmission 38 of their own. In this way, the fins in series 27, 29 are actuated together, but are operated independently of the fins in parallel 24, 26.

In this way, in case of failure of the actuation of a fin in parallel in an open position, the fins in series can be closed, so that the enclosure can be closed. Then, the flow of helium is controlled with the help of the fins in series and, where appropriate, of the second fin in parallel that remains operative.

For this reason, in a process according to the invention, in the takeoff of the atmospheric balloon, the fins in parallel 24, 26 are advantageously in the closed position and the fins in series 27, 29 in the open position. This configuration is represented in Figure 1.

In open position, the fins in parallel 24, 26 are, with respect to the seat 28, on the side of the outside atmosphere 22. In open position, the fins in series 27, 29 are, with respect to the seat 28, on the side of enclosure 21. In closed position, the parallel fins 24, 26 and the fins in series 27, 29 are all closed on the same seat 28.

The actuators 25, 30, 31 of the fins 24, 26, 27, 29 are electric motors. They are arranged on the side of the enclosure with respect to the seat 28, so that they are in the conditions of the enclosure and not in the conditions of the outside atmosphere. Therefore, the actuators 25, 30, 31 are advantageously free of fairing, in particular, free of fairing for protection against moisture.

Next a mechanical transmission 38 of fin 24, 26, 27, 29 is described. Most of the mobile parts constituting the mechanical transmissions 38 are arranged, with respect to the seat 28 and the fins in closed position, on the side of the atmosphere for the fins in parallel, on the side of the enclosure for the fins in series. In this way, the necessary space around the seat 28 is minimal and all the fins in series and in parallel can be closed on the same seat, on both sides of it.

Worm screws 40 mounted on an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the evacuation duct are each driven by one of the actuators 25, 30, 31 of the fins in parallel and in series 24, 26, 27, 29. The worm screws 40 for operating the parallel fins 24, 26 pass through the central platform 39 through a sealed passage.

A ball nut 41 is mounted on each screw screw on the outer side of the screw screw (after the watertight, on the side of the atmosphere). Each ball nut 41 is pulled along the worm screw, in one direction or another depending on the direction of rotation of the actuator.

Each ball nut 41 is joined by orthogonal shaft pivot joints to the worm shaft 40 to two connecting rods 42 on both sides of the ball nut 41. Each connecting rod 42 is also attached to two lever arms 43 in the that said connecting rods 42 are articulated by an axis pivot joint parallel to the pivot joint between ball nut 41 and connecting rods 42.

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Each lever arm 43 is mounted in solidarity with a pivoting shaft 50 around a fixed axis with respect to a frame 45 fixedly mounted on the seat 28 - specifically, on the central platform 39 of the seat 28. The fixed pivot axis of the lever arms 43 is different from the axis of its pivot joint with said connecting rods 42.

Each lever arm is also connected by a pivot joint to a fin support 44.

Each fin 24, 26, 27, 29 has a fin support 44 fixedly mounted on an outer face (on the side of the atmosphere) of the fins in parallel 24, 26 and on an inner face (on the side of the enclosure) of the fins in series 27, 29. Each fin support 44 extends against a fin parallel to a pivot axis of the fin between a closed position and an open position. Each fin support 44 extends over at least 60% of the length of the fin, so as to ensure good maintenance of the fin against the seals 36, 37, in particular, in the corners of the semi-moon fins .

Each mechanical transmission further comprises a third lever arm 43 pivotally mounted around said fixed axis and connected by a pivot joint to the fin support 44, but which is not connected by a pivot joint to the connecting rods 42.

On the other hand, the arrangement of the three mobile pivot joints (between the ball nut 41 and the connecting rods 42, between the connecting rods 42 and the lever arms 43 and between the lever arms 43 and the support 44) is adapted so that , in the absence of actuator feed and, therefore, in the absence of momentum on the worm screw 40, the mechanical transmission 38 is such that the fin in the closed position remains in the closed position despite a pressure difference between the enclosure and the outside atmosphere. More particularly, the mechanical transmission 38 is adapted so that, in a closed position, the fin exerts a non-zero effort on the seat 28, even in the absence of effort transmitted by the actuator of said fin. The fin exerts, in particular, an effort to compress a seal between said fin and a face of the seat.

In the embodiment presented, the helium pressure in the enclosure exerts an effort perpendicular to the surface of a fin when the latter is in a closed position. This effort is collected by the lever arms 43 which, therefore, experience a moment around its fixed pivot axis with respect to the frame. The transmission is adapted so that, when the fin is in the closed position, the moment experienced by the lever arms 43 is transmitted to the connecting rods in the form of an effort on its axis. The cranks are, when the fin is in a closed position, arranged according to an axis orthogonal to the axis of the worm screw. Therefore, the screw screw opposes an effort that resists the effort experienced by the fin in the first place, so that the mechanical transmission 38 opposes an effort that resists the opening of the fin, this even in the absence of effort applied by the actuator

When they are opened from a closed position towards an open position, the fins first move substantially away from the seat 28. In its opening movement, a fin comes into contact with stops 47 that protrude from the frame, in particular, a part of the fin located on the side of the central platform 39 of the seat 28 comes into contact with stops that protrude from the frame 45 located on the outside of the central platform 39 of the seat 28. The stops make sure that the fins are aligned with parallel to a longitudinal axis of the evacuation duct in an open position, so that they do not prevent the flow of helium outwards.

In addition, at least two of the three lever arms - advantageously the two lever arms furthest from each other - are connected directly to the fin by an elastic joint, for example, by a spring 46. The springs 46 are offset with respect to to the support 44, in particular, they are fixed between the support and the area of the fin that comes into contact with the stop 47. When a fin is in an open position, the spring 46 is stretched in traction, so that said fin is held in an open position, near the frame 45, on the one hand by the pivot joint between the support 44 with the lever arms 43 that prevents any translation of the fin and, on the other hand, by the springs 46 and the stops 47 that prevent any rotation of the fin respectively in one direction and in another direction around said pivot joint. In this way, any movement - specifically, any vibration - of the fin around the pivot joint between the support 44 with the lever arms 43, during the release of helium is avoided. The rigidity of the springs is advantageously chosen to avoid resonance phenomena of the fin as a function of the mechanical excitation produced by a release of gaseous composition in the evacuation duct 23.

In Fig. 2, a flow of helium from the enclosure 21 towards the outside atmosphere 22 is shown by arrows, when a parallel fin is in an open position and the fins in series 27, 29 are in an open position. The configuration shown in Figure 2, with a parallel fin in closed position, a parallel fin in open position and the two fins in series in open position can correspond to different situations. Whether the operator has chosen to open only one of the two evacuation openings 32 to obtain a moderate flow of helium in the atmosphere. Whether a parallel fin has been locked in a closed position and the operator has no choice but to open the second parallel fin to release helium in the atmosphere.

Either, finally, that a parallel fin has been locked in the open position. In which case, if an operator wishes to close the enclosure, then send the fins in series 27, 29 so that they move to a closed position. This

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it is the configuration shown in figure 3 in which a parallel fin is locked in the open position and the two fins in series 27, 29 are in the closed position.

Therefore, a device of liberation of gaseous composition contained in an atmospheric globe enclosure allows to maintain control of the atmospheric globe in spite of a fault of a fin.

An operator of the release device receives information about the position (in particular "open" or "closed") of each independent fin set. For this, the device according to the invention comprises a monitoring device adapted to determine the position of each independent fin set.

The monitoring device comprises at least one microcontactor, advantageously two microcontactors mounted near the pivoting tree 50 with respect to the frame 45. The tree advantageously comprises at least one protruding finger adapted to contact a microcontactor when the fin to which it is linked by a mechanical transmission 38 is in closed position. In this way, the microcontactors allow to detect in a redundant way that a fin is in a closed position or that it is not and, therefore, that it is in an open position that allows the gaseous composition to escape -even at a low flow rate- towards the outside atmosphere 22.

The microcontactors are, for example, of the type of T3LD60FL marketed by ABB Control® (69680 Chassieu, France).

A device according to the invention advantageously comprises at least two processors adapted to produce controls of the actuators 25, 30, 31 of the fins 24, 26, 27, 29.

The monitoring device comprises four cables, called surveillance cables (not shown in the figures), in which the surveillance data transits. In a first surveillance cable, data from a first microcontactor, representative of the position of a first parallel fin 24, is sent to a first processor adapted to produce power controls of the actuator 25 of the first parallel fin 24. The first processor is connected to the actuator 25 of the first parallel fin 24 by a first control cable.

In a second monitoring cable, data is sent, from a second microcontactor, representative of the position of the second fin in parallel 26, to a second processor adapted to produce power controls of the actuator 31 of the second fin in parallel 26. The second processor is connected to the actuator 31 of the second parallel fin 26 by a second control cable.

In a third surveillance cable, data is sent, from a third microcontactor, representative of the position of the two fins in series 27, 29, to said first processor, adapted to produce power controls of the fin actuator 30 in series 27, 29.

In a fourth surveillance cable, data is sent, coming from a fourth microcontactor, representative of the position of the two fins in series 27, 29, to said second processor, adapted to produce power controls of the fin actuator 30 in series 27, 29.

The first processor and the second processor are connected to the actuator 30 of the fins in series 27, 29 by the same third control cable.

Therefore, the third and fourth microcontactors and the third and fourth surveillance cables are redundant.

Nothing prevents the provision of wireless control and / or monitoring connections, each actuator then having a local energy source.

The surveillance data prepared by the surveillance device are advantageously transmitted, for example, by wireless communication means on board the atmospheric balloon - the case shared by other instruments integrated on board - arriving at a reception device on the ground adapted to present the information contained in said surveillance data to an operator and more particularly to a human operator.

The device according to the invention receives control data representative of commands sent by an operator and received on board the atmospheric balloon by means of said communication means. Own control data is sent for each actuator.

In addition, each actuator 25, 30, 31 is powered by electricity from a power source integrated to the edge (battery (s), photovoltaic panels, etc.) by a specific power cable 49 other than the power cables of the Two other actuators.

The invention may be the subject of numerous other variants of realization not shown.

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In this way, the number of fins in parallel and / or fins in series can be higher. Also, the number of actuators and mechanical transmission can vary so that the number of fins in parallel and / or the number of fins in series can be higher.

Other forms of evacuation duct and / or fins can be considered.

Claims (17)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 1. Device for releasing a gaseous composition contained in an atmosphere balloon enclosure (21) at a pressure greater than a pressure prevailing in an atmosphere (22) outside the atmospheric balloon, said device comprising: - an evacuation duct (23) capable of joining the enclosure (21) of the atmospheric balloon (20) to this outer atmosphere (22), - at least two fins, called parallel fins (24, 26), arranged in said evacuation duct (23) and adapted to, in a closed position, each close a different portion of an evacuation duct section (23), - an actuator (25) adapted to be able to move a first fin in parallel (24) between a first position, called closed position, of at least limitation of release of gaseous composition and a second position, called open position, of gaseous composition release, - an actuator (31) adapted to be able to move a second fin in parallel (26) between a first position, called closed position, of at least limitation of release of gaseous composition and a second position, called open position, of gaseous composition release, - at least one fin, called a series fin (27, 29), arranged in said evacuation duct (23), other than said parallel fin (24), - an actuator (30) adapted to be able to move said fin in series (27, 29) between a position, called a closed position, of at least a limitation of the release of gaseous composition and a position, called an open position, of a release of gaseous composition, the evacuation duct (23) being completely closed, when all the fins in parallel are in closed position, the evacuation duct (23) being completely closed, when each fin in series is in closed position, characterized in that said actuator (31) of the second parallel fin (26) is adapted to be able to move the second fin in parallel (26) independently of the position of the first parallel fin (24). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator (30) of said serial fin (27, 29) is adapted to be able to move said fin in series (27, 29) independently of the position of the first fin in parallel (24) and independently of the position of the second fin in parallel (26). Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least three different actuators (25, 30, 31) adapted to be able to act independently: - at least a first parallel fin (24), - at least a second parallel fin (26) other than the first parallel fin, - each fin in series (27, 29). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuators (25, 30, 31) of the parallel fins (24, 26) and of the fins in series (27, 29) are electric motors. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is adapted to receive wireless control signals comprising representative data of electric motor controls. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it also comprises at least one device, called a monitoring device, adapted to determine the open position or closed position of at least two independently operated parallel fins and of at least one fin in series. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it is adapted to be able to send wireless signals of said surveillance device to a receiving device. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises two parallel fins (24, 26) and two fins in series (27, 29), said serial fins (27, 29) being actuated jointly . 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: - the evacuation duct (23) comprises a seat (28) interposed in said evacuation duct between the enclosure (21) and the outside atmosphere (22), said seat presenting at least one opening, called the evacuation opening (32, 34 ), between the enclosure (21) and the outside atmosphere (22), - each parallel fin (24, 26) is adapted to, in a closed position, be abutted against a first face (33) of said seat (28), - each evacuation opening (32, 34) is completely closed, when all the fins in parallel (24, 26) 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 they are in closed position, - each fin in series (27, 29) is adapted to, in a closed position, be in abutment against a second face (35) of said seat (28), opposite the first face (33), - each evacuation opening (32, 34) is completely closed when all the fins in series (27, 29) are in the closed position. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that: - said seat (28) comprises at least one sealing gasket (36, 37) on each face, on the periphery of each evacuation opening (32, 34), - each parallel fin (24, 26) and each fin in series (27, 29) is adapted to, in a closed position, compress a seal (36, 37). Device according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that each actuator (25, 30, 31) is arranged, with respect to said seat (28) on one side of the enclosure (21) of the atmospheric balloon (20). 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises a mechanical transmission (38) between each actuator (25, 30, 31) and at least one fin (24, 26, 27, 29) and because said mechanical transmission (38) is adapted so that said fin (24, 26, 27, 29) in closed position keeps this closed position, included in the absence of effort of said actuator (25, 30, 31). 13. Control method of a device according to one of claims 1 to 12 wherein each actuator (25, 30, 31) is fed and controlled independently of the other actuators (25, 30, 31). 14. Procedure according to claim 13, characterized in that: - the parallel fins (24, 26) are operated in a usual mode of operation in which each parallel fin (24, 26) can be operated to a closed position, - the series fins (27, 29) are operated in a degraded mode of operation in which at least one parallel fin (24, 26) cannot be operated until a closed position. 15. Atmospheric balloon (20) comprising an enclosure (21) adapted to be able to contain a gaseous composition at a pressure greater than a pressure that reigns in an atmosphere (22) outside the atmospheric balloon, characterized in that it comprises a device for releasing said gaseous composition according to one of claims 1 to 12. 16. Balloon according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises wireless communication means adapted to: - receive representative control data from the actuators (25, 30, 31), - send wireless signals of a device, called a surveillance device, adapted to determine the open position or closed position of at least two independently operated parallel fins and at least one fin in series, destined for a receiving device . 17. Control procedure of an atmospheric balloon according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that, at the launch of the atmospheric balloon (20), each parallel fin (24, 26) is in closed position and each fin in series (27, 29) is in open position.